Geography of Growth : Spatial
Economics and Competitiveness

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Abstract

This volume is organized as follows.
Chapter one address two questions: how has spatial
concentration evolved with growth and development, and what
are the efficiency implications of too much or too little
spatial concentration? This chapter summarizes the various
models that analyze growth by geographic concentration and
sets the foundation for concepts discussed in later
chapters. Chapter two focuses on urbanization in
geographies. Chapter three correlates urban presence with
economic density in developed and developing countries. It
initially focuses on how urban transition and growth are
blurring the rural-urban divide and the unprecedented volume
of people who are moving to urban areas. Chapter four
discusses how different industries inhabit and impact
various urban sectors. Chapter five contextualizes urban
growth in the current technological landscape as innovation,
particularly in information technology, has become critical
to increasing productivity and consequently growth. Chapter
six further analyzes urbanization in the current global
context, specifically, the impact of globalization and
industry clusters on urbanization. Chapter seven addresses a
current fundamental global trend: why has urbanization been
growing rapidly since the 1950s? Some theories suggest that
it is industry that spurs urbanization and consequently
growth in infrastructure; however this is not the case.
Instead, the chapter concludes by looking at data across
regions and cities, the municipalities are pivotal in
influencing infrastructure development and growth in urban
centers. Finally, chapter eight deciphers why some cities
are more successful than others. Why do Karachi and Sao
Paulo have the human capital that qualifies them as urban
centers but not as thriving cities? By citing examples of
successful cities, this chapter provides policy
recommendations on how to make a city competitive in
today's economy.